21 Comments

Great idea to pursue this angle. I learned a lot.

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Dear Laura, I learned a lot, too. Thank you for reading, commenting.

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Great article, Phoebe. I always learn so much from you. I work for an advertising agency that supports automotive, and this whole transition to electric has been fascinating and, at times, baffling. And while Ford is #2 now in EVs, the new family of GM electric SUVs are stunning, as is the Silverado and GMC electric pickups. I think GM will soon surpass Ford as the #2 electric vehicle maker in the US. Their products appear to be top-notch.

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Thank you for sharing your perspective, Stu. I look forward to driving the new GM electric vehicles. Buzz is positive. It’s hard for me to see any electric vehicle owner going back to an internal combustion engine (ICE). Electric is more fun, more affordable in the end.

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Interesting. Play the game? If the statement “what we resist, persists.” Is valid then could this choice of action move the process of improving energy, infrastructure policies? Risky but boycotting all things Rumpish hasn’t done much. I’m watching with curiosity. This also challenges my next car purchase decisions.

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Dear Kristi, Thank you for the thoughtful feedback. There are so many unknowns. Ford is #2 in electric vehicle production/sales in the U.S., behind Tesla, while hybrid vehicles are essential to their business plan. Clean energy is the focus of General Motors, too.

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“Transactional” = bribery? Your story has certainly enlightened me today. Thank you.

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Enlightenment is a goal. #MissionAccomplished

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Love your technical car stories. But your story today made me realize how unaware I was about about the way businesses of all types seek to influence presidents through these inaugural “gifts.” And such blatant expectations of payback and reciprocity.

Of course, with 47, this has been and will be the norm.

Hopefully a maga internal civil war will help us! Look forward to reading more from you in the new year.

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My analysis car companies bend the knee, obey in advance and show fealty to fascism.

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Dear Isaac, These are challenging, unprecedented times for the auto industry. Thank you for reading.

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No doubt but there are other replies and actions they could take.

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Isaac, please stop with the fascism stuff. It’s so out of touch.

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Right, Trump has no fascist tendencies. There's nothing to see here. Just bow down.

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It’s all about money. Makes me angry and sad. A transactional president.

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These are unprecedented times. Thank you for reading and offering feedback, Denise.

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I know very well why a movie clip kept surfacing in my mind when reading your post, Ms. Howard:

“Nice little [insert business type here] you got here. Be a shame if anything happened to it. Just fill the envelope and we’re good, capiche?”

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Dear Chris, I know it wasn't your intent, but you sent me down a spelling rabbit hole on capiche. Note: Merriam-Webster says capisce is preferred, with capiche and capeesh as secondary. Meanwhile, dictionary.com says capeesh is most often used in fiction. I love these little tidbits.

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I love trivia also. Back in the day, I watched Jeopardy when I could, but nowadays I’m clueless more often than not re the questions (which are the answers, right?)

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Amazing how John McElroy makes the grift of pay to play sound entirely normal. Great article thank you for the insight to the “titans of industry” bending the knee for fear of retaliation.

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Thank you for reading and offering feedback, Scott.

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